| Rafael Nadal just pulled off a win over Novak Djokovic to make it into the men’s 2008 Olympic final. Fernando Gonzalez beats Blake, surrounded by a bit of controversy. At one point in the match Blake hit a backhand passing shot that went long. However it nicked the racket of Gonzalez. The umpire didn’t see it and Gonzalez did not own up to it. Afterwards Blake spoke about it in a press conference and said he was disappointed in his opponent. Blake said it’s a gentlemen’s sport and the Olympic spirit should reflect the highest integrity of the game. He spoke about the values he received from his parents and that if he had ever behaved in such a manner his father would have pulled him off the court. Blake may have lost the match, but his self-respect and integrity is a model for all other athletes.
From the BBC: Rafael Nadal beat Novak Djokovic 6-4 1-6 6-4 to secure a final against 2004 bronze medallist Gonzalez, who beat James Blake in an epic encounter. Blake had three match points at 6-5 in the deciding set but Gonzalez eventually triumphed 4-6 7-5 11-9. Roger Federer, who will lose his world number one ranking to Nadal on Monday, reached the doubles semi-finals. Federer, who is representing Switzerland with Stanislas Wawrinka, beat India’s Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi 6-2 6-4 to clinch a last-four encounter with United States duo Bob and Mike Bryan later on Friday.
Nadal closed out victory in dramatic fashion against Serbian Djokovic, who had already saved one match point with a thunderous forehand which Nadal was unable to return. On his second match point a scrambling Nadal somehow retrieved two smashes by Djokovic and when he lifted another lob the Serb cracked under the pressure and fired it wide to send Nadal into the final. Blake, who knocked Federer out of the singles, had plenty of chances against Gonzalez, but the world number 15 maintained his country’s proud Olympic tennis record thanks to a gutsy display. There was little between the two players throughout a pulsating match, but Gonzalez claimed a decisive break to go 10-9 up in the third set – the only time either player dropped serve in the decider – and served out on his fourth match point to clinch victory. Gonzalez, who took singles bronze in 2004 as well as pairing up to win the doubles with singles gold medallist Nicolas Massu, is now guaranteed at least a silver medal. Blake was left frustrated, particularly by an incident when Gonzalez was serving at 8-9 in the decider and he felt that the Chilean had knowingly touched a ball that was then called out.
“Playing in the Olympics, in what’s supposed to be considered a gentleman’s sport, that’s a time to call it on yourself,” Blake complained. “Fernando looked me square in the eye and didn’t call it. “That’s a disappointing way to exit the tournament when you not only lose the match, but you lose a little faith in your fellow competitor. “We know when it touches us. And he knew that. So that’s where it comes into calling it on yourself because it’s the right thing to do. “Should I expect him to do that? Maybe not. Maybe I shouldn’t expect people to hold themselves to high standards, sportsmanship. “But, yes, I did expect it a little more so in the Olympics when we’re all competing under the banner of this event being to promote sportsmanship, to promote goodwill amongst countries.” Gonzalez denied touching the ball and was adamant that, had he done so, he would have admitted it. “If I’m 100% sure about it, I will give it. But I’m not sure. I’m just moving, that’s all,” he said. Elsewhere, Sweden’s Simon Aspelin and Thomas Johansson won their last-four match against Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra 7-6 (8-6) 4-6 19-17 in the longest three-set men’s match in Olympic history. The previous record of 54 games was set by Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde in their semi-final win against Jacco Eltingh and Paul Haarhuis in Atlanta in 1996.
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© Getty Images Chilean No. 12 seed Fernando Gonzalez (pictured) saved three match points against No. 8 seed James Blake of the United States in a 4-6, 7-5, 11-9 victory Friday for a place in the gold medal match at the Beijing Olympics. Gonzalez, who clinched the bronze medal (d. Dent) at the Athens Olympics in 2004, will now look to win his 11th career title on Sunday.
The 28-year-old saved three match points on serve at 0-40, 5-6 in the third set and eventually closed out the semifinal on his fifth match point, when Blake hit a return into the net. The match, which started at 4:17 p.m. local time, was played in 32 °C (90 °F) heat. Gonzalez hit 40 winners, 11 aces and converted three of seven break point opportunities for victory in two hours and 52 minutes on Center Court. Blake went 0-6 in break point conversion in the third set and committed 70 unforced errors in total. Gonzalez has now won six straight matches – including four on hard courts – against Blake, who last beat the World No. 15 in October 2003 at ATP Masters Series Paris. Gonzalez now has a 24-36 career record against Top 10 opponents. Former World No. 5 Gonzalez will now look to win his first ATP hard-court title since September 2007 in Beijing (d. Robredo). The La Reina resident has won two ATP clay-court titles this year at Vina del Mar (d. Monaco) and Munich (d. Bolelli). He will take a 29-9 season record into the final at the Olympic Tennis Center. Four years ago at the Athens Olympics, he also captured the doubles gold medal with Massu (d. Kiefer-Schuettler). Blake had been attempting to become the fourth American to reach the Olympic men’s singles final since the sport returned to the Olympic Games in 1988 – after Tim Mayotte (1988, Silver), Andre Agassi (1996, Gold) and Mardy Fish (2004, Silver). The World No. 7, who has finished runner-up at Delray Beach (l. to Nishikori) and Houston (l. to Granollers) this year, dropped to a 41-19 match record. Blake will play Djokovic in the bronze medal play-off on Saturday. |
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